NYPD NYPD Legal Definitions and Police Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under New York Penal Law, what generally distinguishes a misdemeanor from a felony?
- Misdemeanors carry a maximum of 1 year in jail; felonies carry more than 1 year in prison (Correct answer)
- Misdemeanors are only traffic violations; felonies cover all other crimes
- Misdemeanors carry no possible jail time; felonies carry up to 5 years
- Misdemeanors require a jury trial; felonies do not
Correct answer: Misdemeanors carry a maximum of 1 year in jail; felonies carry more than 1 year in prison
In New York, misdemeanors are punishable by up to 1 year in jail, while felonies carry sentences exceeding 1 year in state prison.
Question 2: What legal standard must be met before an officer may conduct a 'stop and frisk' pat-down?
- Probable cause to believe the person committed a felony
- Reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and dangerous (Correct answer)
- A warrant signed by a magistrate judge
- The officer's personal sense of unease about the individual
Correct answer: Reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and dangerous
A frisk for weapons requires reasonable suspicion that the person stopped is armed and presently dangerous.
Question 3: In New York, which offense is typically classified as a Class A-I felony?
- Grand larceny in the third degree
- Murder in the first degree (Correct answer)
- Assault in the second degree
- Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree
Correct answer: Murder in the first degree
Murder in the first degree is a Class A-I felony in New York, the most serious felony classification.
Question 4: What does 'chain of custody' refer to in evidence handling?
- The patrol route sequence assigned to officers in a precinct
- The documented record tracking who collected, handled, and stored evidence (Correct answer)
- The list of witnesses present at the original crime scene
- The command hierarchy at the scene of a major incident
Correct answer: The documented record tracking who collected, handled, and stored evidence
Chain of custody is the chronological documentation showing who had control of evidence at every point from collection to court.
Question 5: What is an 'arraignment' in the New York criminal court process?
- The first court appearance where the defendant is formally informed of the charges (Correct answer)
- The final sentencing hearing after a conviction
- The process of processing and fingerprinting a suspect after arrest
- A police interrogation conducted at the precinct
Correct answer: The first court appearance where the defendant is formally informed of the charges
At arraignment, the defendant appears before a judge, hears the charges, and enters a plea for the first time.
Question 6: Under New York Penal Law, which best describes 'assault in the third degree'?
- Intentionally causing serious physical injury with a weapon
- Recklessly causing physical injury to another person (Correct answer)
- Threatening another person with words alone
- Unlawfully restraining another person against their will
Correct answer: Recklessly causing physical injury to another person
Assault in the third degree (PL §120.00) includes recklessly causing physical injury, making it the least serious assault charge.
NYPD NYPD Legal Definitions and Police Procedures 2
Under New York Penal Law, what generally distinguishes a misdemeanor from a felony?